Nut-lock.



J. F. CUNNINGHAM.

NUT LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1916.

Patented May 22, 1917.

WITNESS A TTORNE Y.

JOHN ECUNNINGHAM, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

NUT-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed June 13, 1916. Serial No. 103,409.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inNutLocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of nutlocks, and more particularly anut-lock of the type in which the locking member is readily removable topermit the turning of the nut.

The object of the invention is to provide a nut-lock of the typedescribed which is simple and cheap to produce, which is efficient inits results, and which is easily and quickly operated. The device isparticularly adapted for locking nuts of fairly large size, such, forexample, as those used upon bolts joining the ends of railway rails. Itis not restricted to such use, however, but may be employed wherever adevice of this character is necessary.

To this end my invention consists in the nut-lock hereinafter describedand herewith illustrated in its preferred forms, it being understoodthat changes may be made in the details of construction withoutaffecting the principles of the invention.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, ofmy nut-lock, in its preferred form, as applied to a bolt and nut ofstandard construction.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the spring locking member.

Fig. 3 is a perspective sectional view of my nut-lock as applied to arailway rail joint.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing one method ofsecuring the apertured locking plate.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing another method of securing theapertured looking plate.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a nut, of anydesired form, screwed upon the threaded end of a bolt 2. A plate orwasher 3, prevented from turning by means to be hereinafter described,is placed under the nut 1, and is formed with an aperture 4 adapted toreceive a spring locking memberfi. Said locking member,

formed preferably of flat spring steel or other suitable material, isU-shaped, as shown, and its ends are formed with outwardly projectinglips 6.

In order to insert the locking member 5 into the aperture 4, its endsmust be squeezed together. When the lips 6 pass through the aperture 4,said ends separate as far as the sides of said aperture will permit,thereby causing the lips 6 to engage the under side of the plate 3, toprevent the accidental removal of the locking member 5.

The aperture 4 is so positioned in the plate 3 relative to the nut 1,that the outer end of the locking member 5, projecting from saidaperture, will engage the corners of said nut, as shown in the drawings,and prevent the same from turning. It is to be understood that thelocking member 5 is inserted in said aperture 4 after the nut has beenset up, and must be removed from said aperture before said nut can beturned in either direction.

The form and size of the plate 3 may be varied to suit differentconditions. When the nut lies adjacent to a projecting flange 7 as shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings, the plate 3 is preferably rectangular, and ofsuch a size that one of its edges lies against said flange 7 as shown at8, to prevent said plate from turning.

If no such flange is convenient, the plate 3 itself may be formed with adownwardly turned flange 9, Fig. 5, adapted to engage the edge 10 of themember through which the bolt 2 passes. In either case, the under sideof said plate 3 is recessed, as at 11, around the aperture 4, to form aspace for the free operation of the lips 6 of the locking member 5.

When the bolt 2 is used in-fish-plates, at the ends of railway rails, asshown in Fig. 3, or in other similar plates, the aperture 4 may beformed in the fish-plate 12 itself, andthe separate plate 3 eliminated;and in such cases, when the central portion of said fish-plate 12 isspaced from the rail, as shown at 13, no further recess in its underside is necessary.

I claim A nut-lock comprising a U-shaped locking member lying in thepath of rotation of the nut to be locked said member having resiliencynormally expandlng its legs, and each leg terminating in an outwardlyprojecting lip; and a non-rotatable plate lying under the nut to belocked, said plate having a single through aperture with one dimensionadapted to admit the width'of the locking member and a transversedimension adapted to admit the end lips of the looking member only whenits legs are pressed together, whereby said lips When passed throughsaid aperture under squeezing com- 10 pression of the member will, whenrelieved,

normally expand to engagement with the inner surface of the plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN F. CUNNINGHAM.

WVitnesses:

WM. F. BOOTH, D. B. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

